a single person. When Bassus perceived that, he began
to think of using a stratagem against the enemy, and was desirous to
aggravate their grief, in order to prevail with them to surrender the
city for the preservation of that man. Nor did he fail of his hope; for
he commanded them to set up a cross, as if he were just going to hang
Eleazar upon it immediately; the sight of this occasioned a sore grief
among those that were in the citadel, and they groaned vehemently, and
cried out that they could not bear to see him thus destroyed. Whereupon
Eleazar besought them not to disregard him, now he was going to suffer a
most miserable death, and exhorted them to save themselves, by yielding
to the Roman power and good fortune, since all other people were now
conquered by them. These men were greatly moved with what he said, there
being also many within the city that interceded for him, because he was
of an eminent and very numerous family; so they now yielded to their
passion of commiseration, contrary to their usual custom. Accordingly,
they sent out immediately certain messengers, and treated with the
Romans, in order to a surrender of the citadel to them, and desired that
they might be permitted to go away, and take Eleazar along with them.
Then did the Romans and their general accept of these terms; while the
multitude of strangers that were in the lower part of the city, hearing
of the agreement that was made by the Jews for themselves alone, were
resolved to fly away privately in the night time; but as soon as they
had opened their gates, those that had come to terms with Bassus told
him of it; whether it were that they envied the others' deliverance,
or whether it were done out of fear, lest an occasion should be taken
against them upon their escape, is uncertain. The most courageous,
therefore, of those men that went out prevented the enemy, and got away,
and fled for it; but for those men that were caught within they....

5. When Bassus had settled these affairs, he marched hastily to the
forest of Jarden, as it is called; for he had heard that a great many
of those that had fled from Jerusalem and Macherus formerly were there
gotten together. When he was therefore come to the place, and understood
that the former news was no mistake, he, in the first place, surrounded
the whole place with his horsemen, that such of the Jews as had boldness
enough to try to break through might have no way possible for escaping,
by rea